Red flowering Amyema melaleucae parasitising the Black Tea-tree (Melaleuca lanceolata) on Yorke Peninsula
The mistletoe and host have evolved together and the former has no undue
effect on the growth of the Melaleuca.
The mistletoe parasitises mainly M. lanceolata but also sometimes
M. halmaturorum (Swamp Paperbark).
Closeup of Amyema melaleucae
The mistletoe is a preferred hostplant in coastal areas for
the Amaryllis Azure and also the Wood White (Delias aganippe).
The red flowering Wire-leaf Mistletoe (Amyema preissii)
It usually parasitises Acacia. The mistletoe is a preferred
hostplant in woodland areas for the Amaryllis Azure.
The green and white flowering Pale-leaf Mistletoe (Amyema maidenii), parasitising a mulga tree (Acacia aneura) in the Far North Region of the state
Bull Oak (Allocasuarina luehmannii) parasitised with
Amyema linophylla (pale grey-leafed clumps on tree), which are in turn parasitised
by Lysiana exocarpi (pale green clumps).
The natural tree vegetation is dark green coloured. Bull Oak trees now only exist on
farms or on roadside verges in the South East Region.
Closeup of the white-leafed Bull Oak Mistletoe (Amyema linophylla) and the pale-green leafed Harlequin Mistletoe (Lysiana exocarpi)
All photography by R. Grund unless stated otherwise.